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FOREST AND STREAM 
Forest and Stream Publishing Company 
Chas. A. Hazen, President Charles L. Wise, Treasurer 
W. G. Beecroft, Secretary Russell A. Lewis, Gen. Mgr. 
22 Thames Street, New York. 
CORRESPONDENCE: — Forest and Stream is the re¬ 
cognized medium of entertainment, instruction and in¬ 
formation between American sportsmen. The editors 
invite communications on the subjects to which its pages 
are devoted, but, of course, are not responsible for the 
views of correspondents. Anonymous communications 
cannot be regarded. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS: $3 a year; $1.50 for six months; 
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This paper may be obtained of newsdealers throughout 
the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Foreign 
Subscriptions and Sales Agents—London: Davies & Co.. 
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Entered in New York Post Office as Second class matter. 
ANGLING AS AN ART. 
How few there are outside of the brotherhood 
of the angle who know of what the Angler’s art 
consists, or have even a faint conception of 
the pleasure which it brings its devotees. To 
the outer world “fishing” is illustrated by the 
lazy fellow holding a string off the corner of a 
jiock and sleeping between bites. Some have 
-fried it, and becoming disgusted, declare they 
might angle if the fish would only bite all the 
time, but they could not wait for them. Take 
such a man to a pretty lake, put him in a boat 
with yourself, and rig his tackle. Show him 
where the pike are apt to lie among the lily-pads 
:and how to cast for them. Watch him and see 
the feeble interest developed by the fresh air 
and change of scene—but not at all by any be¬ 
lief in your story about a mythical pike among 
the lilies. Keep your eye on him until he gets 
a strike, and see him turn pale and then flush 
with excitement as he thought of the “Monster” 
which he lost by striking too soon. A lecture 
on the habits of pike is now in order; and he 
learns that this fish seizes its prey and rushes 
to a secluded spot to gorge it; and must be 
allowed to “poach it” before striking. Verily, 
he 'thinks, there is some art and sport in this, 
after all. 
It is as difficult to explain the pleasures of 
angling, with its anticipations, hopes, fears and 
thrills, as it is to describe how a watermelon 
tastes. Those who have experienced these emo¬ 
tions know, and the deeper they get into the 
mysteries of angling the more they enjoy it 
and the greater its claim to be an art appears. 
What veteran angler but can recall the taking 
if some wary old trout which for reasons has 
turked in a favorite pool and spurned the flies 
md worms of dozens of skilled fishers, until 
tt last it fell a victim to a peculiar fly, pre- 
Jented so artistically that even this wary trout, 
educated in the wiles of man by many a sharp 
sting from his steel, was deceived into believ¬ 
ing it to be a living insect. Ask such a vet¬ 
eran if angling is an art, or if it is merely 
luck. 
Chance enters into angling merely enough to 
give it zest. The day may be stormy, the fish 
are not feeding, or many other things may hap¬ 
pen which have not been foreseen, but the 
angler has become more or less of a naturalist, 
and his perceptions have been quickened by fail¬ 
ures until he is able to reduce these chances to 
a minimum. He knows the likely pools in the 
trout stream and the probability of success at 
certain hours. This is where the standard joke 
of the country boy with his alder pole and 
string has its rise. The boy is familiar with 
the stream and catches more fish than the stran¬ 
ger with better rig, but the angler can soon 
give the urchin long odds. 
Angling is the only sport which does not pall 
upon the taste with age. In fact, it increases 
with it, and some of the most enthusiastic fish¬ 
ers are men who have passed three score and 
ten. It is a sport which leaves no taint upon 
its 'devotees, but, on the contrary, brings them 
health and renewed vigor. It has changed some¬ 
what since the days of Izaak Walton, especially 
in America, and is not so “contemplative” as 
in his time. In England still-fishing from punts, 
for bream, barbie, and dace, is followed yet, 
for want of gamier fish; but the American an¬ 
gler, after graduating from the perch and “sun- 
nies” of the mill pond, aspires to the capture 
of the pike, black bass, striped bass, trout, and 
such fish as must be cast, or trolled for, and 
which fight hard. Let him who thinks it idle 
sport cast the minnow or the fly for half a day 
and note the effect upon the tired muscles of 
his arm, and then say if he has been idle. Let 
him wade a trout stream, knee deep, for the 
same length of time, and then judge if he has 
had more leisure than his system can bear. 
Give the boys fishing rods, and good ones at 
that. Never mind the 'talk about catching as 
many fish with a sapling as a fishing rod. This 
comes from men with no appreciation of the 
niceties of art—and can be answered by saying 
that a net will take more than either. The 
angler loves fine tackle, the finer the 'tackle the 
more enjoyment; and it is as natural as that a 
man should like a handsome carriage when an 
ox-cart is stronger, or he can travel as many 
miles in a lumber wagon. The pleasure that 
comes from holding a trusty rod, made to the 
verge of lightness consistent with strength, 
which kills a fish with its elasticity, is as far 
superior to a stiff pole, which throws a fish 
into the treetops before the angler feels the 
electric thrill of the struggle, as the sun is 
superior to a farthing rushlight. The angler 
with the best tackle gets more enjoyment out of 
a day’s fishing than he who captures more fish 
with a coarser tackle. 
A BIT OF ADVICE. 
On the back of the Ohio 1914 hunters’ licenses 
appears the following signed by General John C. 
Speaks: 
“In order to preserve hunting as a legitimate 
sport, it will be necessary for each hunter to 
carefully observe the laws relating to the sub¬ 
ject, and further to lend his moral support to¬ 
ward having others do the same. 
“Respect the landowner’s rights. Observe the 
trespass laws. Most landowners appreciate the 
fact that a hunting trip affords you a relaxation 
and considerable enjoyment. He realizes that 
you may be penned up in office, store, factory or 
shop, throughout the year and that a trip to the 
country is a real treat. Call upon him before 
hunting on his premises; ask permission; as a 
rule you will be favored. If refused, don’t get 
angry and make harsh remarks. He is within 
his rights, but may change his mind about it. 
Perhaps he has not had a square deal from 
others; hunters are not alike. If permission is 
granted be careful about his stock, buildings and 
fences. Show appreciation for his kindness. Be 
courteous to everybody. 
“Another suggestion: Don’t wait until fall to 
make your arrangements. Take an occasional 
trip to the country during the summer and 
spring. Acquaintance with the country people 
will result in good to both. Ohio farmers are 
the most approachable and hospitable people in 
the world. Speak favorably of the license law. 
The moneys received from the sale of licenses 
in 1912 has enabled the state to purchase thou¬ 
sands of game birds. These are being distributed 
free throughout every county. If the laws are 
not being respected in your vicinity, won’t you 
please report the fact? All such reports are 
treated as confidential.” 
MRS. SAGE GIVES $10,000 FOR GAME. 
Mrs. Russell Sage sent her check for $10,000 
recently to William T. Hornaday as a contribu¬ 
tion to the Permanent Wild Life Protection 
Fund. This gift brings the total already sub¬ 
scribed to $50,000, of which almost all has been 
paid in. 
Dr. Hornaday, who is a trustee of the fund and 
has power to expend its income at his discretion, 
places the “irreducible minimum” necessary to 
derive an income sufficient to carry out the work 
intended at $100,000. 
SALMON. 
By Dean Sage. 
I. 
The fish are in the river 
Where it cuts the greening hills; 
And the murmur of the water 
With its precious secret thrills. 
The call to nature’s dearest 
Goes forth throughout the land— 
“Get your rod and tackle ready 
“For the salmon are on hand.” 
II. 
The pool is hoarding treasure 
Where the rapid fails to slack. 
See the swirl upon the water! 
There a big one showed his back. 
Hear the poles grit on the gravel 
As the boat is forced along! 
All the voices of the river 
Sound the salmon fisher’s song. 
III. 
The spray is wildly scattered 
And the silver lightning gleams 
As the king of fish leaps upward 
From the rainbow-riven streams. 
Get your Jocks and Silver Doctors, 
Dose, and Dusty Millers, too, 
And hasten to the river 
For the North is calling you 
To the click, click, clack, 
And the rick-a-t-tack, 
And the whirr of the running reel 
As the line rips out, 
Banishing doubt, 
A big one, by the “feel.” 
